King Salman washes Holy Kaaba

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 17:16 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Makkah (IINA) - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman washed Sunday the Holy Kaaba as part of an annual customary tradition before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. After entering the Kaaba, the King performed two rakaa of voluntary prayers and washed the Kaaba’s wall. Then, he came out to kiss the Black Stone (Hajar Al-Aswad) and rub the Yamani corner.  King Salman was accompanied by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, Governor of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal bin Majed, Sheikh Abdul Rahmal Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, and several other princes, scholars and officials. During his visit, the King reviewed the ongoing largest ever expansion in the history of the Grand Mosque as well as other major development projects in Makkah. The King said that the move comes to respect the commandments of the late King Abdullah. He also inspected the third phase of the mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba). The King tasked Prince Khaled to follow up speedy implementation of all projects in Makkah on time.  HA/IINA

‘Campaign of Hope’ convoy arrives in Yemen

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 17:13 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Riyadh (IINA) - The vanguard of the convoy ‘Campaign of Hope’ arrived in Yemen through the Al-Wadaiah border crossing carrying more than 350 tons of food and medical supplies. The operation is conducted under the supervision of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Work in coordination with the evacuation and humanitarian operations department at the Ministry of Defense. Official spokesman of the Center Raafat Al-Sabagh said that the World Food Program (WFP) will receive the relief material and distribute it to the poor and needy people in Yemen. HA/IINA

Over 700 Rohingya migrants found off Myanmar to be taken to Rakhine

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 17:12 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Yangon (IINA) - More than 700 migrants found crammed into a fishing boat by Myanmar’s navy will be taken to the country’s troubled Rakhine state, a local official said on Saturday, adding all those on board were from Bangladesh. A total of 727 people, including 74 women and 45 children, were discovered in the hull of a vessel on Friday morning in the Irrawaddy delta region with state media reporting that 50 passengers had perished before they were rescued. It is the latest boat to have been discovered as the region battles a migrant crisis that has erupted since the start of May, leaving around 3,500 people on Thai, Malaysian and Indonesia soil and an estimated 2,500 more stranded at sea. The majority of those fleeing to the three countries are persecuted Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar’s western Rakhine state or people escaping poverty in neighboring Bangladesh. A local official said the group discovered on Friday had been taken to Thamee Hla Island in the Irrawaddy delta region by the navy, ahead of their transfer to Rakhine. Buddhist-majority Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as an indigenous ethnic group and officials routinely refer to them as “Bengalis” from across the border. “They will be taken to Rakhine State near Bangladesh tomorrow or the day after,” Myo Win, a local official from Haigyi Island, which is close to where the navy towed the boat on Saturday, said. “As these people came from Bangladesh, we will take them back to Rakhine State because it’s close (to the border),” he added, referring to the western state. Earlier this month Myanmar’s navy found more than 200 bare-chested men in the hull of a wooden, Thai-registered fishing vessel. Myanmar insisted all but eight of those found on that boat were Bangladeshi nationals and vowed to deport them there. The discovery of the latest vessel looks set to deepen a tug of war between Bangladesh and Myanmar over who is responsible for migrants discovered in the Bay of Bengal. Myanmar has been keen to portray those leaving its shores as Bangladeshi economic migrants and has rejected widespread criticism that the Rohingya’s dire conditions are one of the root causes of the current exodus, AFP reported. Bangladesh has said it will not take back any migrants who trace their origin to Myanmar. Myanmar’s 1.3 million Rohingya are heavily persecuted and are one of the world’s largest stateless populations. They have long faced restrictions on movement, jobs and family size while a surge of violence in 2012 between the community and the Buddhist majority in Rakhine brought their plight to the fore. Tens of thousands have fled via perilous boat journeys organized by people-smugglers to Southeast Asia. Malaysia is a favorite destination. Migrants often travel to Thailand by boat, then overland to northern Malaysia. But a Thai crackdown on the lucrative regional smuggling trade in early May left thousands of desperate migrants stranded on land and sea after gangmasters abandoned them. Myanmar state media reported that the 700-plus recently discovered migrants were originally on board three vessels that had tried to go to Thailand but turned back after the crackdown. They were herded onto a single vessel after the Thai people smuggling team who ran the operation abandoned them. “About 50 people died on the way,” the Myanmar News Agency reported. Another state media publication, the Global New Light of Myanmar, reported on Saturday that a Thai man who allegedly owned the first boat with 200 migrants on board had been arrested in Yangon. “He was said to have contacted human trafficking gangs in Bangladesh and trafficked people into Thailand and Malaysia,” the report said. The report did not say what charges the man, who was apprehended on Friday morning, would face. HA/IINA

New law revoking citizenship of extremists comes into force in Canada

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 15:37 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 (Google image) Ottawa (IINA) – A law enabling Canadian authorities to revoke citizenship of those who go overseas for jihad came into force on Friday, news agencies reported. A revised version of Canadian immigration law lets the government strip citizenship from those convicted of terrorism, treason, spying or taking up arms against Canadian soldiers, according to AFP. The new law targets Canadian citizens who opt to join the Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria and Iraq. However, the law affects only those with dual citizenship. Canadian lawmakers are concerned with the tendency of more and more Canadians joining IS, and that later they could return with highly radicalized views and battlefield experience. So far in 2015, no less than a dozen young Canadians – in their teens or twenties – have attempted to head to the Middle East. Over 100 Canadian citizens have already joined the Islamic State group, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported. AB/IINA

OIC to host 5th meeting on implementing UNHRC resolution 16/18

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 15:33 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Jeddah (IINA) – The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will host in Jeddah on June 3-4, the fifth meeting of the Istanbul Process for the implementation of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 16/18, “Combating Incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence based on religion or belief”. A large number of stakeholders including member and non-member states, international organizations, NGOs and Academia as well as legal practitioners of the subject will attend the meeting. Resolution 16/18 adopted in 2011 by consensus is a result of an OIC initiative to reach out to the key partners in the United Nations, such as the United States, European Union and others, to craft a text that steers the debate away from controversial concepts and suggests a balanced comprehensive Action Plan to combat incitement to hatred, violence and discrimination based on one’s religion or belief. In July 2011, the OIC Secretary General, U.S. Secretary of State, EU High Representative and other key Western and OIC countries’ leaders met in Istanbul and agreed to have an informal follow-up mechanism to give effect to the Action Plan of this resolution. As agreed under Istanbul Process, regular meetings are being held in different parts of the world to follow up the implementation of the Action Plan by different stakeholders at different levels. So far four meetings have been held in Washington, London, Geneva and Doha. Among other things, the 5th meeting of the Istanbul Process in Jeddah will focus on how to strengthen universal consensus on Resolution 16/18 as well as to ensure the full and effective implementation of its Action Plan at national and international levels. The meeting will also endeavor to benefit from the views of legal practitioners on how to use the existing legal regimes being practiced in different countries to combat incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence based on religion and belief. The OIC looks forward to welcoming all stakeholders in this meeting, which hopefully will renew the commitment and consensus on this text as well as helping to find practical solutions to the difficult issues that can be universally applied across different legal regimes. AB/IINA

ISESCO condemns Nigeria mosque terrorist bombing

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 15:27 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Rabat (IINA) – Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri strongly condemned the terrorist bombing at a mosque in Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri, the capital of the Borno state. The explosive was detonated inside the mosque next to the Monday Market of Maiduguri during the afternoon (Asr) prayers on Saturday, killing scores of worshippers and injuring several others. “This terrorist and criminal act cannot be committed by a Muslim who believes in Islam and knows its message of tolerance, but it is rather an act of misguided criminals, violators of the teachings of Islam and the mischief makers in the earth,” Altwaijri said in a statement. He stressed the ISESCO’s solidarity with Nigeria in the face of terrorism, which targeted the security and safety of its citizens, calling on the international community to intensify efforts to eradicate terrorism from its roots and protect the world from its evils. AB/IINA

Palestinians commemorate 'Mavi Marmara' martyrs

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 15:25 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Gaza (IINA) – Palestinians in the Gaza Strip gathered on Saturday evening to mark the anniversary of the martyrs of the Turkish aid flotilla "Mavi Marmara", which set off to break the siege on the Gaza Strip in May 2010. The commemoration is part of the events organized by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (THRF). “This event is a message from Turkey to assure Palestinians that it will never forget their cause and will continue to support them through these events,” Mehmet Kaya, head of the THRF, told the International Islamic News Agency (IINA). Kaya stressed that the deadly attack by the Israeli navy on the Turkish aid flotilla is a "separation between two dates, the one prior to the incident and the one after it, therefore the liberals and activists solidarity movement with Gaza will never stop. For his part, Rami Abdou, representative of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, said: "All Israeli attempts to prevent the activists to mobilize support and advocacy for the Freedom Flotilla III are doomed to failure." "Today, after five years, we recall the appeals of our colleagues on board Mavi Marmara ship, who lost their lives as a result of the arrogance of the Israeli occupation," he added. Abdou stressed that the European campaign will continue its meetings with the Freedom Flotilla III team in the Greek capital Athens. The Mavi Marmara was attacked by the Israeli navy on international waters on 31 May 2010. Ten Turkish activists were killed and 30 others injured. AB/IINA

Denmark to standardize halal rules

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 12:35 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Photo: On Islam website Copenhagen (IINA) – In a bid to boost its halal meat exports, Denmark aims to develop common industry standards through collaboration between producers, brokers and marketers of meat in the Nordic country, On Islam website reported. “There is a shift towards more stringent halal rules in a number of countries,” Stig Larsen, a senior consultant to Danish Agriculture & Food Council trade and market department, told Global Meat News on Friday. “Malaysia is the country with the strictest rules, but also countries such as Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore have strict requirements, while African countries can also have stringent regulations,” he said. Larsen was speaking about the two-day seminar, scheduled to take place in Copenhagen in June, to tackle the aspects of halal meat industry in Denmark, including slaughtering, production, and export. The seminar will also highlight halal rules in Malaysia, as part of Danish efforts to accelerate the standardization of halal rules. The seminar, which was announced during a meeting between the Danish Agriculture & Food Council and producers, brokers and marketers of halal meat, aimed to discuss developing halal standards that consider the differences of halal slaughtering conventions between countries. AB/IINA

Qatar to establish more projects in Gaza, says Ambassador

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 12:00 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Sheikh Hamad City, Gaza Gaza (IINA) - Ambassador Mohammed Al-Emadi, president of the Qatari National Committee for the Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, announced Saturday a number of new projects in the Gaza Strip, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported. Speaking to the press during his tour of Qatari projects in Gaza, Al-Emadi said that the reconstruction process was going well. He added that building materials were entering the enclave on a daily basis. Al-Emadi highlighted that the continued entry of building materials had prompted the committee to launch new projects. He added that the committee has already signed a number of contracts this week. The Ambassador said that the third and fourth stage of the Salah el Din Street were being completed, as were the projects in the city of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. Furthermore, 200 to 300 families will receive building materials to rebuild their homes after they were destroyed during the Israeli war on Gaza. AB/IINA

Uzbekistan, South Korea to build gas chemical facility

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 11:58 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Tashkent (IINA) – Uzbekistan and South Korea’s GS Engineering & Construction inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a project for construction of a gas chemical complex worth $4.5 billion, a representative of Uzbekistan’s government told Trend New Agency. The MoU was signed during the state visit of Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov to South Korea on May 27-29. The source said the project envisaged the creation of capacities for the production of olefins from methanol. The gas chemical complex is planned to be built by the GS Engineering & Construction and Uzbekistan’s National Holding Company Uzbekneftegaz. The GS Engineering & Construction is one of the general contractors for the construction of the Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex at Uzbekistan’s Surgil field. AB/IINA

OIC condemns terrorist attempt to blow up Dammam mosque

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Sunday 31 May 2015 - 11:56 Makkah mean time-13-8-1436 Al-Anoud Mosque, Dammam Jeddah (IINA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the foiled terrorist bombing targeted Al-Anoud Mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, during Friday prayers. Three people were killed in addition to the suicide bomber and four others injured in the failed attempt. OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani praised the vigilance of Saudi Arabia’s security officers who thwarted the terror plot, which had the potential to kill dozens of innocent worshippers at the mosque. Madani said that the failed bombing further unveiled the ugly face of Daesh, which was responsible for the crime and which considers the shedding of innocent blood and the targeting of mosques on the blessed days of Friday as lawful. He added that heinous crimes such as this will not be successful in dismantling the unity of Saudi society, but will instead only increase it. Madani offered his sincere condolence, expressed solidarity with the families of those killed in the attack and wished the injured speedy recovery. He also expressed confidence in the Saudi authorities that they would be able to quickly detect and expose those who planned and carried out these bombings. The secretary general stressed the OIC support for Saudi Arabia in all the steps it undertakes in maintaining security and stability across the Kingdom. AB/IINA

Saudi Scholars’ Council condemns attack near Dammam mosque

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Saturday 30 May 2015 - 15:08 Makkah mean time-12-8-1436 Dammam (IINA) - Saudi Arabia’s Council of Senior Scholars on Friday condemned the suicide attack near Al-Anoud Mosque in Dammam. Four people were killed Friday when a car exploded near Al-Anoud Mosque and the militants failed in their bid to hit the mosque after security officials foiled the attack. The blast comes days after a May 22 suicide bombing on a mosque in Al-Qudaih village in Eastern Province killed 21 people. ISIS had also claimed that attack. In a statement issued on Friday and carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the board said the "terrorist groups behind the ghastly attack on Al-Anoud Mosque and Al-Qudaih's Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque have exposed their hideous faces." The statement said: "Islam forbids attacking places of worship even in legitimate wars. How can one target mosques in a Muslim society and a country that rules by the Shariah and serves the Two Holy Mosques?” The statement also called for unity to "root out the menace of terrorism from our society." It also reposed full confidence in the Kingdom's "security personnel who are always alert to the dangers posed by deviant forces." Grand Imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar mosque also condemned the terror attack targeting worshippers. He said it was necessary for all Muslims to maintain Islamic unit. A major catastrophe was averted Friday when security forces around Al-Anoud Mosque in Dammam stopped a suicide bomber disguised in women’s clothing from entering the mosque compound. The bomber, however, did succeed in detonating the bomb a little away from the mosque in which at least four persons were killed including the suicide bomber and security personnel. The blast also set several cars ablaze. Alert security forces, in the process, must have saved the lives of hundreds of worshippers inside the mosque as the bomb was of high intensity and was tailor-made to create havoc in a larger area, officials said. “Authorities have managed to foil a terrorist crime targeting people performing Friday prayers at Al-Anoud Mosque in Dammam,” capital of Eastern Province, said an Interior Ministry spokesman quoted by the Saudi Press Agency. The bomber “detonated the explosive belt he was wearing at the mosque entrance as security officials were on their way to inspect him,” said the spokesman, citing preliminary investigation results. The explosion went off just as the attacker’s car stopped at a parking lot near the mosque, the spokesman said. The explosion killed the attacker as well as three others and wounded four people, he said. The spokesman had earlier said the car exploded as security officials headed toward it. Other nearby vehicles caught fire. According to unconfirmed reports one of the volunteers of the mosque also died in the explosion. Residents circulated pictures of the body of a man believed to be the suicide bomber as well as pictures of black clouds of smoke billowing over a parking lot outside the mosque. Video posted on social media showed the congregation inside the mosque reacting with shock and alarm to the noise of the explosion outside the building. A Daesh statement named the suicide bomber as Abu Jandal Al-Jizrawi and said he had managed to reach his target despite heightened security. Daesh (so-called IS) claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing last week at Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque in Al-Qudaih town of Qatif that killed 21 and wounded nearly 100 in the bloodiest militant attack in the Kingdom in years. HA/IINA

Anti-Islam protesters denounced by counter protestors outside U.S mosque

Saturday 30 May 2015 - 15:06 Makkah mean time-12-8-1436

Arizona (IINA) - More than 200 protesters, some armed, berated Islam and its Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) outside an Arizona mosque on Friday in a provocative protest that was denounced by counter protesters shouting "Go home, Nazis," weeks after an anti-Muslim event in Texas came under attack by two gunmen. 
The anti-Muslim event outside the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix was organized by an Iraq war veteran who posted photos of himself online wearing a T-shirt with a crude slogan denigrating Islam and waving the U.S. flag, according to Reuters news agency. As the event got under way, demonstrators on both sides screamed obscenities at each other as police in riot gear swiftly separated the two groups, each with about 250 people, using police tape and barricades.
"This is in response to the recent attack in Texas," organizer Jon Ritzheimer wrote on his Facebook page announcing the event at a mosque targeted in part because the two Texas gunmen had worshipped there.
More than 900 people responded on the event’s Facebook page that they would attend, and police expanded their presence in the evening in anticipation of growing crowds. Officers with riot helmets and gas masks formed a cordon for several blocks. Among the anti-Islam protesters, some of whom called Islam a "religion of murderers," more than a dozen men in military clothing carried semi-automatic weapons. Others waved copies of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad drawn at the Texas event. By late Friday night, virtually all the protesters and police had left the area with no reports of violent flare-ups or arrests.
Depictions of Mohammad, which many Muslims view as blasphemous, have been a flashpoint for violence in Europe and the United States in recent months where those displaying or creating such images have been targeted by militants. Anti-Muslim groups have been active in the United States, buying ads and staging demonstrations characterizing Islam as violent, often citing the murderous brutality of Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
The Phoenix mosque targeted on Friday has condemned such violence and held a series of sermons at Friday prayers last year by an imam who criticized militant Islamist groups such as ISIS, al Qaeda and Nigeria’s Boko Haram. The president of the center had urged worshippers not to engage with the demonstrators. "We should remind ourselves that we do not match wrongness with wrongness, but with grace and mercy and goodness," Usama Shami told worshippers during Friday prayers. 
While some counter-protesters outside the mosque responded to the anti-Islam protest with obscenities, others followed his advice and chanted "Love your neighbor." Todd Green, a religion professor at Luther College in Iowa who studies Islamophobia, said that the brutal acts committed by ISIS and other militant groups have colored many Americans’ impressions of Muslims. "Almost two-thirds of Americans don’t know a Muslim," Green said. "What they know is ISIS, al Qaeda, and Charlie Hebdo," referencing the January attack on the Paris office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead over anger at the magazine’s cartoons featuring the Prophet.
In a similar incident, a pair of gunmen on May 3 opened fire near Dallas outside an exhibit of cartoons featuring the Prophet Mohammad and were shot dead by police. Leaders of the Phoenix Muslim community confirmed both gunmen had attended the mosque targeted in Friday’s demonstration. U.S. officials are investigating claims that the Texas gunmen had ties to the Islamic State, but said they had not established a firm connection.
The Department of Homeland Security spoke with state and local law enforcement and monitored the situation in Phoenix, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. Ritzheimer, the main organizer of the demonstration, said the point was "to expose the true colors of Islam." "True Islam is terrorism. Yes, the ones that are out committing these atrocities and stuff, they are following the book as it’s written," Ritzheimer told CNN. Ritzheimer was a staff sergeant in the Marine Reserve and was deployed to Iraq twice, in 2005 and 2008, the Marine Corps said. Anti-Islam activist Pamela Geller, who organized the Texas event, said she was not involved in the Phoenix demonstration.
The mosque is a former church near the city’s international airport that can hold some 600 worshippers. The Phoenix area is home to tens of thousands of Muslims. Friday’s event is part of "an epidemic of anti-Islamic sentiment" that goes beyond protesting against extremism, said Imraan Siddiqi of the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "Don’t mistake that, they’re not saying they want to rid America of radical Islam, they are saying they want to rid America of Islam," Siddiqi said.
HA/IINA

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Syria rebels claim capture of army base in Idlib

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Saturday 30 May 2015 - 15:04 Makkah mean time-12-8-1436 Idlib (IINA) - Syrian opposition fighters have seized the largest remaining military base in Idlib in one of their most significant victories in the province since taking Idlib city in March, according to media reports. Abu Yazid, a spokesman for Ahrar al-Sham, one of Syria's most powerful armed groups, told Al Jazeera the fighters took over the entire town of al-Mastouma and its army base after days of heavy clashes with security forces. Ahrar al-Sham is part of the Fattah Army, a coalition that controls most of Idlib province, in Syria's northwest. Yazid also said that a subsequent offensive in the northern town of Ariha, one of the last government bastions in Idlib, is forcing Syrian troops to withdraw. "The military has begun withdrawing from Ariha," he said. He said at least 50 troops had been killed in recent fighting in Idlib. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, and numerous activist groups on the ground in Syria have confirmed the takeover of entire Al-Mastouma. Syrian state television reported that army units at the base were moved to Ariha to reinforce defense lines there. Ahrar al-Sham's advances come almost two months after the Fattah Army seized Idlib city, which is strategically located near the main highway connecting the country's second city Aleppo and the capital Damascus. Heavy fighting has also continued in the Idlib city of Jisr Al-Shughur, where government forces are bombarding rebel-held areas in an attempt to rescue many soldiers reportedly besieged in a hospital. Against this backdrop of military reverses, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has praised Iran, the main foreign source of military, political and economic support for his government, as a "key pillar". Tuesday's statement came during Assad's meetings with Ali Akbar Velayati, a foreign affairs adviser to Iran's supreme leader, who was the third Iranian official to visit Damascus in less than a week. "The support given by Iran to the Syrian people constitutes a key pillar in the battle against terrorism," state news agency SANA quoted Assad as saying. Velayati's visit came days after the two countries struck a series of major economic deals in a wide range of sectors, including electrical, medical and oil industries, according to SANA. Last Thursday, Alaedin Boroujerdi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy, visited Damascus and said that Iran's support for the Assad government was "firm and eternal." HA/IINA

Syria barrel bombs kill 45 in Aleppo

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Saturday 30 May 2015 - 15:01 Makkah mean time-12-8-1436 Aleppo (IINA) - A series of barrel bombs dropped by Syria’s government has killed at least 45 civilians and wounded dozens in Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said. "At least 45 civilians were killed, and dozens were wounded, when regime helicopters dropped barrel bombs on the city of Al-Bab and in eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo," the Britain-based Observatory said on Saturday. Al-Bab, about 40km northeast of Aleppo city, is controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, while the east of the provincial capital is in control of other rebel groups fighting the government of Bashar Al-Assad, Al Jazeera reported. This comes a day after rebel fighters seized the last government-controlled town in the country’s northwestern province of Idlib after government forces retreated to their coastal bases, according to activists and a monitoring group. A Syrian coalition known as the Fattah Army seized the town of Ariha on Thursday, giving the group full control of Idlib province. The Fattah Army is made up of several armed groups, notably the Nusra Front. Hadi al-Abdallah, a Syrian activist reporting from Ariha, said that dozens of Syrian soldiers were killed in the clashes. HA/IINA

Nigeria’s new President Buhari vows to fight against Boko Haram

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Saturday 30 May 2015 - 14:59 Makkah mean time-12-8-1436 Abuja (IINA) – Nigeria's new President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on Friday and pledged to tackle Boko Haram "head on," asserting the fight against the extremists wouldn't be won until hundreds of schoolgirls abducted last year and other kidnapping victims were brought home alive. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls, the Associated Press reported.  As Buhari finished taking the oath of office in traditional robes and an embroidered cap, the crowd at Eagle Square in Nigeria’s capital roared its approval.  The former general then inspected troops in the plaza, decked out in colors of Nigeria’s green and white flag, from the back of an open vehicle and waved at supporters. A 21-gun salute boomed over Eagle Square during the handover of power which is a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. A phalanx of African leaders attended the inauguration along with France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and US Secretary of State John Kerry. HA/IINA

Jordanian PM meets U.S. Congressional aides delegation in Amman

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Saturday 30 May 2015 - 14:45 Makkah mean time-12-8-1436 (Image from Petra) Amman, (IINA) - Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Thursday received a number of US Congressional aides and held talks with them on reforms the Kingdom has achieved, Petra reported. During the meeting,Ensour noted that the Kingdom is making progress in implementing political reforms and promoting freedom and democracy. He also stressed that Jordan was able to maintain its security and stability in a turbulent region, thanks to the leadership of King Abdullah and Jordanians' awareness. He pointed out that Jordan is an open country and has no political prisoners or exiles outside its borders. He spoke about the war on terror and reviewed Jordan's efforts in this regard; especially the fight against IS, pointing out that the victim of the actions of these terrorist gangs is Islam and its tolerant image. On the Palestinian issue, he reiterated Jordan's stance to apply resolutions reflecting international legitimacy, that have been agreed upon unanimously by all countries, especially the United States, to finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue. SM/IINA

Lebanon may pursue two Hezbollah men labeled as terrorists by Saudi: Report

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Saturday 30 May 2015 - 14:41 Makkah mean time-12-8-1436 (Google image) Beirut, (IINA) - Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said that Lebanon may take measures against two Hezbollah officials labelled as terrorists by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. government for allegedly spreading “chaos” in the region, The Lebanese Daily Star reported. “The Lebanese government will ask Saudi authorities to provide it with the files of the two Hezbollah officials, Khalil Harb and Muhammad Qabalan in order to take the local necessary measures,” Machnouk told Saudi daily Al-Watan in remarks published on Thursday. He said there was “full cooperation” between Lebanese and Saudi security agencies. Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday that it had listed Harb and Qabalan as terrorists over their involvement in spreading “chaos and instability.” For its part, the United States welcomed the Saudi sanctions, saying Washington had also designated the two men in 2013 for overseeing “violent operations” in the Middle East. SM/IINA

Four die as mosque blast foiled in Saudi Arabia’s Dammam

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Friday 29 May 2015 - 15:29 Makkah mean time-11-8-1436 Dammam (IINA) - Saudi Arabia’s security forces foiled on Friday a suicide car bomb blast at a mosque in the eastern city of Dammam, the security spokesman at the Ministry of Interior said. Four people were killed when a car exploded near in Al-Anoud Mosque during Friday prayers, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Security forces became suspicious of a car parked near the mosque which exploded as they walked towards it, killing four people and setting fire on cars in the surrounding area, the spokesman said. One of those killed is suspected of being the driver, he added. Residents circulated pictures of a badly disfigured body of a man believed to be the suicide bomber as well as pictures of large black clouds of smoke billowing over a parking lot outside the mosque, According to Al Arabiya News. It is the second bomb attack on a Saudi mosque in a week. Last Friday, 21 worshippers were killed and more than 80 injured when a terrorist blew himself up at Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque during Friday prayers in Al-Qudaih town in the eastern Qatif region. HA/IINA

Moroccan King meets Senegalese President in Dakar

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Friday 29 May 2015 - 12:17 Makkah mean time-11-8-1436 (Image from MWN) Dakar, (IINA) - Morocco's King Muhammad and Senegalese President Macky Sall expressed satisfaction at the “special strategic partnership” between the two countries and the strength of bilateral relations in a range of fields, Morocco World news reported. They underscored this at a joint statement issued at the end of the King’s visit to Senegal on May 20-28. The statement adds that bilateral Moroccan-Senegalese relations stand as “a cooperation model in Africa”. The visit was an opportunity to foster and expand the legal framework governing bilateral ties between the two countries through the signing of 28 cooperation agreements covering a range of economically strategic areas, the statement added.  During the meeting, the Senegalese president thanked Morocco’s support to Senegal in achieving its development goals through the sharing of expertise in fields pertaining to economic and social development. SM/IINA

Moroccan entrepreneur to launch new app for American mosques

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Friday 29 May 2015 - 11:49 Makkah mean time-11-8-1436 (Google image) Rabat, (IINA) - Moroccan entrepreneur and co-founder of Mercytech Yassine el Karyani is set to launch a new app for American mosques, Morocco World News reported. Mercytech unveiled Islamically.com, a new web app that will boost the online presence of American mosques. Islamically.com features profiles for mosques and their imams, an event promotion platform, and a video translation service to subtitle Muslim sermons from Arabic to English. In addition, the app includes a fatwa engine to facilitate religious opinion requests coming from Muslims or non-Muslims living in America and route them strictly to imams that live in America. “We no longer need to import Islamic knowledge from imams who are unfamiliar with the American lifestyle. American imams are better equipped to be the main source of Islamic knowledge for American Muslims, and this app facilitates this,” Yassine Elkaryani, Mercytech’s co-founder and managing partner, told Morocco World News. “As the data we will be handling is sensitive, and because we may be targets of hacking, we vaccinated ourselves with the most advanced solutions out there to ensure continuity of our services without fear of intrusions or lengthy interruptions. The cost is higher but worth the investment,” explained Elkaryani. Mercytech will host a service overview seminar on June 13th at 10:30 a.m. at Holiday Inn in Fort Lee, New Jersey to showcase Islamically.com to potential clients, advertisers, Muslim community activists, and press. It is noteworthy that the new app services will be available to the public in August 2015. SM/IINA

American University in Cairo to introduce new specialization in solar energy

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Friday 29 May 2015 - 11:46 Makkah mean time-11-8-1436 Cairo, (IINA) - American University in Cairo (AUC) will introduce new specialization in solar energy, offered by the department of physics at the school of sciences and engineering, news agencies reported. The program, a first of its kind in the region, is in alignment with both national and international trends that emphasize the importance of renewable energy in general and solar energy in particular. “We planned to launch this specialization due to the high student demand and interest in the topic, in addition to the increasing need for professionals with the skills to successfully lead solar energy development ventures,” said Muhammad Swillam, assistant professor and associate chair of the department of physics. Swillam noted that there are other factors that helped in the launch of the specialization including particularly the decrease in the costs of solar energy production and the ever-growing demand for green-energy. Swillam, who is also a member of the curriculum committee that developed the new specialization, said that the new specialization will provide a solid undergraduate-level education for students who desire to strengthen their knowledge in the field of solar energy. Swillam, explained that this new specialization is a clear evidence of how the physics department is evolving dynamically incorporating teaching and research that is coherent with the international and national development as well as the strategic plan of the department and the school. “The effort in developing this program without the need of any additional resources was challenging. However, we believe that it will be rewarding for our students and for the department,” he added. SM/IINA

Tibetan leader Dalai Lama urges Suu Kyi to help save Rohingyas

Friday 29 May 2015 - 11:31 Makkah mean time-11-8-1436

(File image)

Myanmar, (IINA) - Amid increasing global concern about the future of Rohingya Muslim minority, the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has urged fellow Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the main opposition leader in Myanmar, to do more to help the persecuted Muslim minority Rohingya, as thousands fled Burma to escape discrimination by the country's Buddhist majority, according to media reports.
Despite thousands of Rohingya fleeing on harrowing boat journeys to Southeast Asia to escape a wave of deadly attacks and discriminatory treatment by the country's Buddhist majority, Suu Kyi has yet to speak out against their plight.
The Tibetan leader said on Thursday she must voice her opposition to the persecution, adding that he had already appealed twice to her in person since 2012, when deadly sectarian violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state pitted the Rohingya against local Buddhists, to do more on their behalf.
"It's very sad. In the Burmese (Myanmar) case I hope Suu Kyi, as a Nobel laureate, can do something," he told The Australian newspaper in an interview in advance of a visit to Australia next week.
"I met her two times, first in London and then the Czech Republic. I mentioned about this problem and she told me she found some difficulties, that things were not simple but very complicated. But in spite of that I feel she can do something," he added.
Analysts have attributed her silence to fears about alienating voters in the lead-up to elections set for November.
In the past few weeks, about 3,100 Rohingya refugees fled Burma and Bangladeshi to land in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand where they fell in the custody of respective governments.
According to an estimate by International Organization for Migration (IOM), about 8,000 boatpeople are still adrift in Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, where they are running dangerously low on food and water.
In recent years, especially since 2012, Rohingya’s have been facing an increased level of pressure in many terms.
Though thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled for their live on boat journeys to Southeast Asia to escape persecution, opposition leader Suu Kyi is yet to comment.
The Tibetan leader, the world's most famous refugee, added from his exile in the Indian Himalayas that it was not enough to ask how to help the Rohingya. "This is not sufficient. There is something wrong with humanity's way of thinking. Ultimately we are lacking concern for others' lives, others' well-being," he said.
Described by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted minorities, Rohingya Muslims are facing a catalogue of discrimination in their homeland.
They have been denied citizenship rights since an amendment to the citizenship laws in 1982 and are treated as illegal immigrants in their own home.
Rights groups have accused the Burmese security forces of killing, raping and arresting Rohingya’s following the sectarian violence last year.
Between 2012 and 2013, Buddhist mob attacks have left hundreds of Rohingya Muslims killed and evacuated more than 140,000 from their homes.
The violence has displaced nearly 29,000 people, more than 97 percent of whom are Rohingya Muslims, according to the United Nations.
Many now live in camps, adding to 75,000 mostly Rohingya displaced in June 2012, after a previous explosion of sectarian violence.
SM/IINA

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OIC urges international community to restore Rohingya rights

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Friday 29 May 2015 - 11:10 Makkah mean time-11-8-1436 Kuwait City, (IINA) - The Organization of Islamic Corporation (OIC) Ministerial Contact Group on the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar held a meeting on the sideline of the 42nd Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers taking place in Kuwait. The meeting was opened by the Secretary General of the OIC Iyad Madani with a speech read on his behalf by the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ambassador Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Alim. The Secretary General stated that the OIC continues to monitor the situation of thousands of Rohingya and Bengali refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in search of livelihood who have become stranded in canoes in the Andaman Sea and Malaga Strait. He noted that contacts with ministers in the region were ongoing to find a way to provide support for the victims. Madani added that the OIC Permanent Representatives in Geneva and New York were continuing their contacts with UN agencies, humanitarian organizations and other development partners to address the situation. He also explained that the OIC was making efforts to urgently alleviate the sufferings of the victims as it confronts the challenge of collecting funds to provide necessary assistance for the relief of the refugees and the challenge of improving access of relief agencies to affected areas in Myanmar to meet the needs of the local community. The Secretary General urged the Contact Group to provide assistance to the OIC Special Envoy in Myanmar Syed Hameed Albar. He also urged member states to intensify efforts to promote effective engagement with the authorities in Myanmar, stressing the need to urge the international community to continue to fulfill its humanitarian commitments and ensure that the Rohingya achieve peace, justice and regain their rights. For his part, Syed Albar, presented his report on his efforts aimed at alleviating the plight of the Rohingya Muslims and his recommendations in this regard. SM/IINA

OIC FMs affirm commitment to promote Islamic solidarity, combat extremism, terrorism: Kuwait Declaration

Friday 29 May 2015 - 00:04 Makkah mean time-11-8-1436

OIC Foreign Ministers meeting, Kuwait

Kuwait City (IINA) – Wrapping up their 42nd session in Kuwait on Thursday, Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegations of member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) affirmed their full commitment to support the objectives and principles of the OIC in order to benefit Muslim peoples and secure their common interests through bilateral framework and the OIC framework with the aim of promoting Islamic solidarity and coordinating Joint Islamic Action.
They supported in "Kuwait Declaration", a copy of which was seen by the International Islamic News Agency (IINA), "the efforts of the Secretary General towards reform of the OIC and improvement of its capacity in all fields with the aim of upgrading its performance to confront challenges and expand its relations, including through the opening of new regional offices for the Organization to support its objectives and serve its causes and international just causes.”
Palestine
They renewed their full support for the cause of Palestine and Jerusalem and for the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and return.
"We stress that just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region is dependent on full Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian and Arab lands occupied in 1967, including the Syrian Arab Golan and occupied Lebanese territory, on the establishment of the Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital, and on finding an equitable solution to the Palestinian refugees issue, in accordance with relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab peace initiative."
They expressed their support for the presentation of a new draft resolution to the Security Council in order to end Israeli occupation of Palestine and to find a final settlement for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. They condemned and renounced Israel's arrogant policies through its blockade of the Gaza Strip, building of settlements, expansion of racial segregation wall, Judaization of Jerusalem, and attempts to make it a Jewish state. They expressed their support for the measures taken by the Palestinian state to accede to international institutions, charters, treaties and protocols.
They also expressed their profound appreciation for the efforts of the OIC Secretary General to mobilize support for the Palestinian cause, and welcome the visits by the ministerial Contact Group on the City of Jerusalem to many influential states in order to support the search for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.
They appreciated the ongoing efforts of Morocco's King Mohammed VI, chairman of the Al-Quds Committee and Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency to protect the identity of Jerusalem and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the holy city and safeguard their Islamic heritage.
Yemen
They affirmed their commitment to the security and stability of Yemen and the support for the legitimacy embodied in President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and for the conclusion of the political process in accordance with the Gulf initiative and its implementation mechanisms, the outcome of the national dialogue conference, and the Security Council resolution 2216 and other relevant resolutions.
They praised the outcome of the Riyadh conference on “Saving Yemen and Building a Federal State”, held on May 17-19  with wide participation of all Yemeni political and social forces, and civil society organizations. Also, the adoption of the “Riyadh Document” in accordance with the objectives set out by the Yemeni President in his letter to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to preserve the security and stability of Yemen in the framework of adherence to legitimacy and reject the coup against it, to reject and delegitimize the so called constitutional declaration, to return military ammunition and equipment to the State, to re-establish state authority to all Yemeni territory and bring Yemen to safety in order to enable return of normalcy, and to ensure that Yemen does not become a base for terrorist and extremism organizations”.
They called on all Yemeni political constituents to respond urgently to the request of President Hadi for resumption of dialogue with all parties.
They welcomed “Operation Restore Hope” and expressed their deep appreciation for the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for the establishment of a unified center to coordinate the provision of assistance to the Yemeni people.
They urged all states, including OIC states, regional and international organizations, including OIC bodies working in the development and humanitarian fields, to provide assistance and adopt the international program for the comprehensive economic and development support for the reconstruction of Yemen.
Syria
They called on the international community to adopt a firm position to end the violence and continued destruction of Syrian infrastructure, and to put an immediate end to bloodletting and killing of Syrians. They reaffirmed the legitimate rights of the Syrian people, and their support for a political solution based on the resolutions of the Geneva 1 Conference.
They called on all stakeholders to implement UN Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2165, and all other relevant resolutions, appraisers the State of Kuwait for hosting first, second and third conferences to support the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Libya
They noted that they are following with deep interest the ongoing security incidence and political developments in Libya, calling on all Libyan factions to assume their responsibilities to end the violence and adhere to the peaceful option for ending the crisis. They commended the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Libya to broker a political solution to the crisis. They affirmed the need to respect the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya, to abstain from interfering in its internal affairs and preserve its full independence.
They also reaffirmed  their support for the Libyan people to protect their country’s borders, halt illegal immigration, and prevent infiltration of terrorists groups and flow of weapons and military equipment.
Iraq
They noted that they are following the unfortunate developments in Iraq’s security situation, and the attempts of the so-called 'Daesh' terrorist group to undermine its security and stability. They reaffirmed their support for Iraq in preserving its security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and support the serious and dedicated endeavors of the Iraqi government to implement the national reconciliation program with a view to consolidating the internal front and strengthening the national unity of the Iraqi people.
Iran
They welcomed the framework agreement between the P5+1 Group and Iran, noting that they are looking forward to its finalization through the final signature arrangements in the end of next June. They reiterated their call to Iran to cooperate with international community to contribute to fostering peace and stability elements and to reinforce relations of good neighborliness.
Combating Terrorism
They reiterate their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of any justification thereto, and denouncing terrorist attacks and all forms of incitement which affected many states and some OIC countries. They expressed their strong condemnation of the terrorist act which recently targeted a mosque in Al-Qateef region in Saudi Arabia, insisting in the same vein, on the need to combat terrorist groups and those who support them and their heinous practices which have nothing to do with Islam.
They also reiterate the need to work for drying out the sources of funding of terrorism and commitment to relevant UN and OIC resolutions on combating terrorism and extremism, particularly the outcome of the inter-ministerial executive committee meeting, held on 15 February 2015. They called for joint regional and international efforts to fight terrorism and extremist thought, and commended the outcome of the brainstorming session held on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the CFM in Kuwait, on importance of developing an effective strategy to combat terrorism and extremism.
They welcomed in this regard the content of Makkah Declaration adopted by the international Islamic Conference on 'Islam and the Fight against Terrorism' held in Makkah on 22-25 February 2015 under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, which called for distancing the members of the Islamic Ummah, regardless of their denominational affiliations from dissents and fighting, and for developing a comprehensive strategy to dry out the sources of terrorism and extremists thought and promote trust among the youth of the Ummah.
They also reaffirmed that combating terrorism and religious extremism is not done by engaging in a conflict with the upright religion of Islam nor by propagating the concept of Islamophobia, but rather through wide cooperation, dialogue, constant communication with other societies, and through rejection of destructive ideas which incite violence and hatred, and emphasizing that the idea of openness and tolerance among peoples is first of all a human necessity advocated by divine religions.
They stress the importance of concerted efforts to consolidate cooperation among the peoples of the member states in social, cultural and development areas as well as combating poverty. In that vein, we compliment the roles played by GCC countries in offering development assistance to states suffering from development challenges.
They also welcomed the outcome of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC Ministers of Foreign Affairs (15 February 2015, Jeddah) the International Conference on Counterterrorism, organized by the Muslim World League (MWL) in Makkah on 22 February 2015, and the First International Summit on Combating Violent Extremism (Washington, February 2015), which further strengthen international, regional, and bilateral cooperation. They demanded joint international efforts and ideological security and military coordination to counter extremism and terrorism.
They welcome the Security Council resolution 2199 (February 2015), adopted unanimously under chapter-VII, on eliminating all sources of funding terrorism, and strengthening control in areas captured by terrorists.
They condemned the gruesome atrocities committed by all terrorist organizations, including IS, Al-Qaeda, and Jabhat Al-Nusra against innocent civilians.
They reiterated their solidarity with Mali, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire, Comoros, Djibouti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the People of Jammu and Kashmir, the Turkish Cypriots and the People of Kosovo, and their aspirations to live in peace, security and prosperity.
They also reiterated the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, pursuant to relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
They expressed their solidarity with the African countries, as further reflected in the Arab-African Summit, hosted by Kuwait, in facing the security and development challenges and in combating poverty.
Rohingya Muslims
They denounced the practices against the Muslim Rohingya in Arakan region, Myanmar, and called on the international community and the member states to provide humanitarian assistance. They also called on the Islamic Group in Europe and Geneva to shed light on this issue and to mobilize international support to prevent their persecution and deprivation of their legitimate rights.
OIC 10-year Program of Action
They praised the endeavors of the Secretary General and the Expert Group in relation to the new OIC 10-year Program of Action (2016-2025), which would advance socio-economic, humanitarian, scientific, and development fields to counter the challenges faced by the Islamic Ummah in the 21st Century.
43rd Session of CFM, 2016
They expressed appreciation of Uzbekistan’s decision to host the 43rd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers in 2016.
Kuwait
They extended their congratulations to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait on the occasion of bestowal of honor on the State of Kuwait as a Center of Humanitarian Action, which reflects the role undertaken by the State of Kuwait in the humanitarian and development areas.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the OIC foreign ministers, heads of delegations and the participants extended their deepest thanks and gratitude to Sheikh Sabah and to the People and government of Kuwait for warm hospitality and excellent organization.
AA/AB/SM/IINA

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FIFA vote: Palestinians refuse to back down on Israel

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 17:54 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 Jibril Rajoub, left, Stepp Blatter (Google image) Zurich (IINA) – Palestine's football chief on Wednesday continued his refusal to back down on a threatened vote to suspend Israel from football's governing body after talks with increasingly desperate FIFA president Sepp Blatter. "Nothing has changed, the vote is still on the agenda," Palestinian Football Association chief Jibril Rajoub told AFP after the meeting with Blatter and as the countdown to Friday's vote gathered pace. "The meeting lasted about one hour, there were no results," Rajoub said. Palestine, which has been a FIFA member since 1998, wants the governing body to suspend Israel over its restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players, and opposes the participation in the Israeli championships of five clubs located in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, illegal under international law. The vote is scheduled for Friday and needs a simple majority of over 50 percent of the 209 members to succeed. Blatter has been lobbying furiously to try to avoid the vote, travelling to the Middle East last week to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas. Blatter strongly opposes the vote saying it brings politics into football and that Israel has not breached FIFA's statutes. Arab delegations at a Confederation of African Football meeting walked out when Israel Football Association chief Ofer Eini addressed the confederation in Zurich. Rajoub said he opposed the protest and the Arab delegations should have stayed. AB/IINA

Former British PM Blair quits as Middle East peace envoy

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 17:44 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 (Google image) London, (IINA) - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday resigned as envoy of the Middle East Quartet diplomatic group after eight years in the job, AFP reported quoting his office. “Tony Blair has tendered his resignation in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,” said a spokeswoman for Blair. Blair is expected to remain active in the region, but not in any formal capacity. It is unclear whether a new representative of the Quartet, which brings together the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, will be appointed. The move follows concerns about the potential conflicts of interest between Blair’s role in peace negotiations in the Middle East and his business activities, according to Daily Mail. In addition, Blair’s involvement in the Iraq War has made him unpopular in large swathes of the Middle East, while others say he is very close to Israel. In July, a group of former British ambassadors called for Blair to be removed from his role over the possible clash between his business interests and attempts to ‘absolve himself’ of responsibility for the Iraq crisis. The letter said his achievements as envoy had been negligible and he was guilty of seeking to please the Israelis. SM/IINA

Buddhist monks lead rally against Rohingya Muslims

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 14:53 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 Yangon (IINA) - Several hundred Buddhist nationalists protested in Yangon on Wednesday against mounting international pressure for Myanmar to stem the exodus of Muslim Rohingya migrants and aid those still stranded at sea. Demonstrators, including Buddhist monks, shouted “Don’t insult our country!” and “There are no Rohingya in Myanmar” in angry chants aimed mainly at the United Nations. The migrant crisis in Southeast Asia has shone a spotlight on the dire conditions and discrimination faced by the roughly one million Rohingya in western Myanmar, a group widely seen as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. “This 1.3 million people are not from our country. I do not accept there is a Rohingya ethnicity here,” said protester Kyaw Htet, 31. The protesters, many wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Boat people are not Myanmar. Stop blaming Myanmar,” converged at a busy junction in Yangon before making a short march through city streets. More than 3,500 Bangladeshi economic migrants and stateless Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar have arrived on Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian soil in recent weeks. The UN’s refugee agency believes hundreds more could still be stranded at sea with diminishing supplies of food and water after a crackdown in southern Thailand disrupted a major human trafficking network. Myanmar’s navy last week found exhausted and hungry men and boys, mainly thought to be from Bangladesh, crammed in the rusting hull of a smugglers’ boat off its coast. They have been held in a border region of the western state of Rakhine, where Rohingya live in abject conditions after 2012 communal violence that left the region deeply segregated and sparked a deadly wave of anti-Muslim attacks. But calls to help the group have stirred outrage among Buddhist nationalists, who have been increasingly prominent in Myanmar in recent years. “Those helping the illegal migrant Bengalis are our enemies!” protesters shouted on Wednesday in a sign of the depth of feeling on the issue among some in Myanmar. At a press conference about its election plans Suu Kyi’s opposition party sought to play down the problems in Rakhine, saying it was just one of many issues for the impoverished country to solve as it creeps out of the shadow of military rule. “We understand that it is an issue internationally,” said National League for Democracy MP Win Htein, adding that it was the responsibility of Myanmar’s government. “We know that we have to handle this problem some day,” he said. Noble Peace Prize winning opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been reluctant to speak out on the migrant crisis. Observers say she fears alienating voters in the Buddhist-majority nation before elections in November. HA/IINA

​Terror acts divide Muslim world: Saudi Arabia

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 14:50 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 Kuwait City (IINA) - Terror acts and extremism aim to divide Muslim world, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said on Wednesday at the conference of Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Kuwait. “We have been committed to confronting the challenges of extremism and violence,” Al-Jubeir said, Al Arabiya News channel reported. “Terrorism, extremism and sectarianism aim to divide the Muslim world,” he added, citing the current conflict in Yemen as a “reflection of the suffering of the global Muslim community.” Opening the conference, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said: “We must take a serious stand on the sectarian malady that has been shaking the structure of our nation. This fanaticism is the most dangerous to the existence of our nation ... We are all losers in this conflict, and the winner is the one who wants to inflame this destructive strife for own objectives.” On the Syrian crisis, Sheikh Sabah said the four-year-long war could “only be solved through diplomatic channels” as the humanitarian crisis escalates. Over 50 foreign ministers are attending the May 27-28 OIC meeting to form Islamic world’s strategy on combatting terrorism, violent extremism and hate speech in a meeting. HA/IINA

​Bangladesh plans to relocate Rohingyas to island

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 14:49 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 Dhaka (IINA) - Bangladesh plans to move thousands of Rohingya who have spent years in refugee camps near the Myanmar border to a southern island, an official said Wednesday, as the region faces a human trafficking crisis, AFP reported. The government has started planning the relocation to Hatiya island in the Bay of Bengal in a move backed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said additional secretary Amit Kumar Baul. “The relocation of the Rohingya camps will definitely take place. So far informal steps have been taken according to the PM’s directives,” said Baul, head of the government’s Myanmar Refugee Cell. A Rohingya leader urged the government to cancel the plans, saying it would only make life worse for the refugees — many of whom have been languishing in the camps for years since they left Myanmar. “We want the (Bangladesh) government and international organizations to resolve our issue from here,” Mohammad Islam, a community leader in one of the camps, told AFP. Bangladesh is home to 32,000 registered Rohingya refugees who are sheltering in two camps in the southeastern district of Cox’s Bazar which borders Myanmar. The Rohingya leave Myanmar largely to escape discriminatory treatment by the Buddhist majority. Baul said the move was partly prompted by concerns the camps were holding back tourism in Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s longest unbroken beach and where locals flock to beach hotels and resorts. “The government has been paying (increasing) importance to the tourism sector. Therefore, a plan to relocate them to an isolated area is under process,” he said. Thousands of persecuted Rohingya from Myanmar as well as Bangladeshi migrants have been attempting perilous journeys by boat to Southeast Asia. Thailand began a crackdown on human trafficking and smuggling following the discovery of mass graves there, which appears to have thrown regional trafficking routes into chaos. News of the plan comes just days after Hasina slammed Bangladesh’s own economic migrants, many of whom are stranded in dire conditions at sea, calling them “mentally sick” and accusing them of hurting the country’s image. The island plan, reported this week in local media, has not been formally announced, but officials have been tasked with preparing for the relocation. Badre Firdaus, government administrator of Hatiya island, said 500 acres of land has been identified as suitable for the relocation. The move would not include the estimated 200,000 unregistered Rohingya refugees who have fled across the border over the past decade and taken refuge in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. HA/IINA

Kazakhstan hosts UN Media Seminar on Peace in Middle East

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 14:45 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 Astana (IINA) – The United Nations would spare no effort in supporting the quest for peace in the Middle East, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told participants in a two-day international media seminar held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on May 26-27, UN Department of Public Information (DPI) reported. He stressed that a free, pluralistic media was essential in covering both the Israeli-Palestinian story and broader regional dynamics in a fast-paced digital world. In a message delivered on his behalf by Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information, Ban said that for nearly a quarter century, the annual UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East had provided an opportunity to enhance understanding between Israelis and Palestinians and examine media dynamics as they related to the evolving situation in the region. This year’s event would explore the challenges media faced in covering the Israeli-Palestinian story and examine the role of social media in reporting news and the role of media in times of conflict, including the fighting in Gaza in 2014. “With your support and engagement, we can work together to let journalism thrive and continue to promote peace, understanding and mutual acceptance,” Ban said through his message, adding that the occupation that started in 1967 must end. The UN chief had repeatedly called on all parties to resume peace talks and fulfil the aspirations of both Palestinians for an independent, sovereign and viable State and Israelis to live in a secure and safe nation. AB/IINA

Global Dryland Alliance to hold ministerial conference in Marrakech

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 14:42 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 (Google image) Marrakech, (IINA) - Global Dryland Alliance (GDA), a global organization that endeavours to promote food security and stability in predominantly arid regions, will hold its ministerial conference for two days starting from Friday in Marrakesh, Morocco World News reported. The conference will tackle issues relating to desertification, poverty and malnutrition as well as famine in arid countries, organizers said. Created at the initiative of Qatar, the GDA brings together about twenty countries notably from Africa and the Middle East. The GDA aims at launched projects in fields pertaining to agricultural development and water in cooperation with local, regional and international partners. SM/IINA

Saudi Arabia freezes assets of two Hezbollah leaders

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 13:46 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 Jeddah, (IINA) - Saudi Arabia decided on Tuesday to freeze the assets of two Hezbollah members for its support to terrorist operations in various Middle East countries including Yemen and Syria, Arab News reported. The decision which has been taken by the government, includes also a ban on Saudis having any dealings with the two men, identified as Khalil Harb and Muhammad Qablan, according to a statement carried by the SPA on Wednesday. The men were high-ranking members of Hezbollah responsible for various activities including supporting the Assad regime in Syria with funds and fighters, giving money to various factions in Yemen, and support for “militants responsible for terrorist operations in the Middle East,” the statement said. The Kingdom would “continue its fight against the terrorist activities of Hezbollah using all available means,” and work with partners around the world to ensure that everyone is aware of the organization’s “military and extremist activities,” the statement added. “As long as Hezbollah seeks to spread chaos and instability, carries out terrorist attacks and is involved in criminal and illegal activities around the world, the Kingdom will continue to designate its activists, leaders and entities and impose sanctions on them,” the statement noted. The Kingdom had issued a royal decree to freeze the assets of the two men. This was based on the country’s anti-terrorism laws, which has specific penalties for terrorists, their supporters and sympathizers. “Saudi citizens are prohibited from having any dealings with them,” the statement said. SM/IINA

Rising Islamophobia irks U.S. Muslim organizations

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 13:42 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 Photo: Anadolu Agency Washington (IINA) – Muslim leaders in Washington said that Islamophobia was on rise particularly after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks but its frequency and notoriety has increased in the U.S. during the past decade, Anadolu Agency reported. Some even argue that there are those who have a very clear agenda to propagate stereotypes about Islam. The burning of a mosque in Texas and fliers distributed on the streets of Boston demanding that Islamic State (Daesh) surrender within 72 hours or Muslims in Europe and the U.S. will be killed are recent examples of anti-Muslim sentiments across the U.S.  But while there is an existing discourse in the U.S. that targets Muslims, particularly after the 9/11 attacks, it appears that the Daesh militant group has placed added pressure on Muslims. Politicians and religious leaders in Muslim countries have condemned Daesh – which operates in Syria and Iraq – but more than a quarter of Americans and nearly half of senior Protestant pastors say Daesh offers a true representation of Muslims, according to a pair of new surveys conducted earlier this year by LifeWay – a research company. The Washington-based Brooking Institution suggested in February that Americans’ hatred toward Islam has grown since the rise of Daesh, and 14 percent of Americans believe the group has the support of the majority Muslims around the world. Ibrahim Hooper, the Communications Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said that even after 9/11 there was a reserve of goodwill for American Muslims, so even though Muslims and mosques were attacked, a majority of the American people reacted in favor of Muslims and supported them. But since Daesh has been on the scene "unfortunately we are seeing rising levels of anti-Muslim sentiment in our society,” Hooper said. He said the prejudice toward Muslims can’t be attributed only to Daesh. "There is also an organized industry promoting Islamophobia in America, founded by millions of dollars and promoted by networks and Internet hate sites. So it is created artificially and that is why we get incidents like we saw in New York. Because the individual that planned the attack on the community in New York actually got the idea from the right wing media since it was portrayed as a training camp for terrorists, which is absolutely false in reality," Hooper said, referring to 63-year-old Robert Doggart who was arrested in April for plotting a deadly attack against a mosque and school in a Muslim village in New York state using guns, explosives and a machete. AB/IINA

Jordanian King, U.S. lawmakers discuss latest developments in Middle East

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 13:36 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 (Image from Petra) Amman, (IINA) - Jordanian King Abdullah on Wednesday received a U.S. congressional delegation here, Petra reported. The King and the U.S. lawmakers discussed Jordanian-U.S. relations and the latest developments in the Middle East and the world. In addition, both sides tackled efforts to fight extremism and terrorism and peacemaking in the region. The delegation is in the Kingdom as part of a regional tour related with aid. SM/IINA

Graves found in Perlis jungle are new, says Malaysian minister

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Thursday 28 May 2015 - 13:34 Makkah mean time-10-8-1436 (Google image) Perlis (IINA) – Malaysian  Deputy Home Minister Dr Wan Junaidi Jaafar said the 139 graves of alleged victims of human traffickers and 28 abandoned camps believed to have been used by them in the Perlis jungle are new and not over 10 years old as reported in the media, BERNAMA reported. Dr Wan, who was accompanied by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid, said the evidence gathered at the site of the graves in Bukit Wang Burma close to the Malaysia-Thailand border substantiated this. He said the foodstuff recovered at the site was still fresh, and the plastic roof of the camps was also new. Wan also said it was incorrect to refer to the graves as mass graves because each of the three graves unearthed so far contained only one body, wrapped in shroud in accordance with Islamic requirements. "All the bodies (at the site) will be brought out for pathological tests to determine the cause of death and whether the victims had been tortured,” he added. The deputy minister said the unearthing of the graves and removal of all the bodies is expected to be completed by June 8. AB/IINA